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R154 adapted to AMC kit feeler |
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Skulljeep
AMC Fan Joined: Dec/13/2023 Location: Joliet, IL Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: Dec/13/2023 at 8:18pm |
I know its been about 6 years, but are you still making hybrid transmissions? And Did you fix the clutch issue?
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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I fired it up again and it ran surprisingly smooth
Drove it around for a while and I had the same clutch problem 10 minutes and the clutch stops working. Still trying to figure that one out |
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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The swap is in...
I have some hydraulic clutch issues with the eagle master and cherokee slave hydraulic clutch system I set up. This was working before with the AX-15 so I think it might be leakage because it seems to lose hydraulic pressure after some time driving. I'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with the actual transmission I built. At least I hope it's just hyd clutch I have 3.15 gears I think in the garage to put in the AMC20. The 3.54 are a little off I am working a lot and hopefully will have time to play with it in December
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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Greg55_99
AMC Fan Joined: Nov/25/2014 Location: Massachusetts Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Any updates on the swap?
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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One last little thing - I needed a starter shim.
I used a 4.0L flywheel on the 258 because the 258 flywheel stuck out an extra 1/4" and messed up the clutch geometry so that it couldn't function at all - I learned that the hard way. The 4.0L flywheel means you need to use a 4.0L starter. The starter was making a noise for about 1 second when I fired it up. Yes I replaced the starter solenoid to make sure it was functioning. I took off the starter and measured to find the problem -on the trans - space from inspection plate face (starter mounting surface) to flywheel teeth -on the starter - starter mounting surface to starter pinion They were both about 3/8" so the starter pinion was essentially touching the flywheel teeth. It needed to be spaced out to give a small gap. There is a .1" spacer for the Ford starter called Dorman Starter Offset Shims 02359that's about $8 from Summit or NAPA p/n 655-1188That took care of the problem. Why did I need a starter shim? The transition from 258 to 4.2L and 4.2L to 4.0L contains some mysteries in the flywheel/bellhousing area that I don't fully understand but be warned when doing transmission swaps between different eras of straight six. |
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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amcenthusiast
AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/02/2012 Location: SW Atlanta GA Status: Offline Points: 1778 |
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Your 'THE MAN'! -for doing this conversion article, with all the good info & showing the swap into your Hornet.
Congratulations for your successful swap. |
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garsod
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jun/08/2008 Location: Centennial, CO Status: Offline Points: 339 |
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Great to hear. Drive the pants off of it. Enjoy
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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I test drove the car a couple times this weekend
The R154 gears are much better for a passenger car than the AX-15 gears I still have the 3.54 rear end and may want 3.08 or 3.15 rear gears I'm also tuning the carb and it needs some work still for optimum response I have the AX15 gear in 5th which makes .63 overdrive I may put in the .75 overdrive gear from the R154 depending on what rear gear ratio I choose To sum it up, the build needs a pilot adaptor and possibly a 5th gear spacer ring to use the R154 5th gear but otherwise the parts are mostly stock The 21 spline clutch disc is the other special piece which is available If you can get the R154 and AX15 2wd with the external slave from a junkyard, this becomes a really cool and relatively cheap swap It's best for a car that already has the hydraulic clutch like a Concord or Spirit For an Eagle I think the AX15 4wd is the way to go The hydraulic clutch conversion is tricky unless you can get manual transmission hydraulic clutch pedals for your Gremlin or Hornet. Well it works! It's been road tested! Pretty satisfying to finally have it in the car! |
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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When I bench tested it, the overdrive was about .6
I was a bit confused by this, since I was expecting the AX15 ratio of .79 Turns out the R154 counter gear ratio is different and that makes a .63 5th gear http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?153443-.63-overdrive-5th-gear-for-R154-for-those-that-dont-know!!!#/forumsite/20626/topics/153443?page=1 Since I want an overdrive closer to .75, I'll have to use the R154 5th gears with a spacer to fit on the AX15 output shaft. I will need a ring spacer about 5/16" which I'm having fabricated |
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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71hornet6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/18/2012 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 433 |
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Assembled on the bench
Bench testing with the Hurst shifter I put in the 21 spline clutch disc with the Toyota clutch alignment tool I put on the bellhousing after I get it under the car because the bell is real big and the trans is heavy Getting ready to lift this beast into place. If you've seen an AX-15 it's huge and the R154 gears and intermediary plate add even more weight. This guy is about 100lbs and not that fun to put in because there's very little clearance |
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'71 FrankenHornet:
'72 258 '95 4.0L Head Holley 390CFM AX15 with R154 gears 5 speed Hurst shifter AMC20 rear axle Detroit TrueTrac Dual Exhaust Concord Discs Spirit AMX sway bars |
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